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Whole Food Vitamins

What Are the Major Causes of Hair Loss?

Hair loss is a natural bodily process or cycle. The average human being loses 100-200 strands of hair on his/her head each day. This is our body’s way of getting rid of the old and starting anew – just like the way our skin gets rid of dead skin cells.
But there is a distinct difference between the regular shedding that we experience from Alopecia which refers to the sickness of hair falling out. If you find that you are losing a lot of hair strands daily – more than the usual and you feel that your head is starting to thin, the best thing to do is to consult a hair care specialist so they can provide you with a proper diagnosis.
The best way for us to protect ourselves and our loved ones from excessive or sudden hair loss is to know the causes of hair loss and nip it in the bud – so to speak. Here are some of the causes of receding hair based on scientific studies and research that we have made.
Stress
If you think that your hair is not affected by emotional, psychological or mental stress – think again! Our body reacts to our emotions and stress makes it a point to emancipate in our body in the form of different kinds of sickness.
The different emotions that we undergo also mess up the hormones in our body and it has been found that one of the causes of hair loss is closely tied up to hormones and hormonal imbalance. Aside from emotional or psychological stress, physical stress can also take its toll on your hair. Undergoing a major surgery or trauma in your body can lead to your body stopping the hair growth process or cycle – leading to baldness or permanent hair thinning.
Sickness
Heart problems, problems with the thyroid gland and other organs are also considered one of the major causes of hair loss. This also leads to one other cause of hair loss, which is…
Medication
Taking birth control pills, anticoagulants (blood thinning medicine), too much vitamin A and even anti depressants have been found to cause Alopecia (hair loss) in individuals.
Infections
Scalp infections are one of the primary causes of hair loss in individuals, because the body has a way of shutting down the hair growth processes when it senses pain or infections in the scalp.
Improper Hair Care
If you think that you are taking care of your hair by using all the best hair products and treating your hair in the parlor from time to time – think again! Most hair products and treatments have harsh chemicals that can irritate your scalp thereby causing sudden hair shedding.
Even the most expensive hair irons and hair dryers in the market can be really harsh on your scalp and hair – especially if you use it on your hair daily.
These are just some of the major causes of hair loss in men, women and children as found in recent studies and research. The best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe from hair thinning is to make sure that you are informed and make sure to seek professional advice from doctors – even your hair stylist can provide you with good advice – on how to keep your hair and scalp healthy.…

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Whole Food Vitamins

Lose Weight Fast and Effectively

When I married my wife, I weighed 165, I was in great shape and extremely active, but I started to work more and more and work out less and less, I would pay less attention to the foods that I would eat. Over the course of 15 months and I ended gaining 60 pounds. My job doesn’t require much physical activity (I sit in a chair and stare at a computer all day long), so it was hard to lose the weight and keep it off. I love food and at one point in my life, I could eat anything that I wanted and not gain a pound, I failed to realize that my body wasn’t burning off the calories that I was bringing in. It wasn’t until I started to feel embarrassed going swimming or feeling tired all of time that I decided to make a change. I tried all of the different programs out there, but none of them worked. I was looking for the “become thin in 24 hours” perfect solution, it wasn’t until trying and failing multiple times that I realized there is no such thing. Don’t waste the time with the magic weight loss pills, stick with what has been proven to work, diet and exercise. There are some great programs that will teach you correct and effective dieting and exercising techniques.
Over time, I have learned some different techniques that help in losing weight and keeping it off. It all starts with effective dieting and exercise. Here are some tips that have helped me in losing weight.
Tips for weight loss
1) Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are very healthy for you. They have a lot of fiber and antioxidants. In addition to this, eating raw fruits and vegetables will make you feel fuller, faster! The amounts of calories that fruit and vegetables have are really low. So be sure to eat plenty of them!
2) Eat in Proportions
Never overfill yourself. Eat until you are satisfied but do not overeat. Remember, you can always pack food up and save it for later. Remember this tip when you got out to eat at a restaurant or fast food!
3) Frequency
Instead of three big meals a day, eat less but more frequently. Doing so will keep your blood sugar levels in check. It will help avoid a calorie overload. Try to eat 5-6 small meals in a day.
4) Better Choices
Avoid fast food and processed food, they have more sodium and fat. You can lose weight just by eating home cooked meals.
5) Be Consistent
Do not jump into eating healthy right away. Allow yourself time to eat some of the foods you really like. A consistent change will give you more hope than a quick change and failure. A slow progression will give you faith about your overall progress.
6) Understand Food Nutrition
Fat free claims on products do not necessarily mean that the product is low in calories. Read the nutrition facts on the label to avoid foods that are high in sugar and fat. Do not be fooled by misleading labels that can be put on any product.
7) Water
Try to drink 8 glasses of water a day. It helps to avoid pop,coffee, and anything else loaded with sugar.
8) Exercise
Exercise for 30 min 60 minutes each day to burn off calories. This is one great way to lose a lot of body fat.…

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Nutrition

Weight Loss – The Gentle Way to Lose the Weight Gained During Your Pregnancy

New moms always discuss the ways and means of weight loss after childbirth. This is an important issue, and you will be amazed what new moms put themselves through to get back to their pre-pregnant bodies. Remember, not all diets will work for everyone so you will have to find one that actually suits you.
Firstly you need to acknowledge that the weight you now want to lose took at least nine months to gain, and a normal person cannot lose that amount overnight. Unlike all the movie stars you see pregnant today and skinny tomorrow (within days), we as average people do not have the finances to employ a personal nutritionist, trainer and of course a nanny.
As an everyday mom we do not have the time to spend hours training while the nanny takes care of the new baby. Moms tend to have so much to do, like the laundry, cooking, fetching children, paying bills and generally running the entire household. So remember all you new moms out there, losing the weight you gained will take a little longer. But once you are back into your favorite skinny jeans it will all be worth it.
It is also very important not to cut out too many calories. As you will still need some extra energy as a new mum. This is very important for breastfeeding moms too. If you are not eating properly your baby will not get the right nutrition from the breast milk. Make sure you eat the right types of food and the right amount as well. Yes, I know we are trying to lose weight here and here, I am advising you to eat between 1000 and 2000 calories a day. Remember you will be pretty tired after a long night with the baby, and energy is really important.
So even though you cannot lower your calorie intake by much, and the doctor has told you to take it easy for six weeks, this does not mean that you cannot do any form of exercise. You can start slowly, by taking long strolls with your baby for example. This will get you into the fresh air, and help you burn off some calories. As the weeks go by you can start walking a little faster with the stroller, to get the heart pumping and the muscles working again. Remember moderate exercise helps boost your selfesteem and mental health as well.
When you finally go for your six weeks checkup, you can also ask your doctor for some advice on how to lose the weight if you feel the need. But by now you should already be losing the weight as you exercise and eat healthily. Remember to avoid supplements and diet pills at this time, unless prescribed by your doctor.
So basically you just need to be a little patient, and to take a healthy approach to your weight loss after the birth. This will help get you back to your normal weight. Do it correctly, and don’t go to extremes, and you will get back to your normal weight.…

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Nutrition

2010 Best Hair Care Products For Dry Scalp

The best way to keep your scalp hydrated and nourished is with products that help replenish the lost moisture. Dry scalp can cause hair to itch and flake which can be annoying if you wear dark colors. There are many ways to do this but I have developed a three prong attack to help moisturize the hair and scalp and keep it that way.
Step 1). Find a good deep moisturizing shampoo, I use emu oil shampoo it is a natural moisturizer that penetrates deep into your scalp to help hydrate and condition dry areas.
Step 2). Match it up with a creamy conditioner, I also use emu oil for this one but a creamy emu oil conditioner. Its super thick formula help coat my scalp and make my hair really soft and hydrated. It only takes a little bit, make sure you massage it into your scalp and leave it in for about 60 seconds for the best results.
Step 3). I use a treatment at night before I go to bed, I have tried a few different things, the two that stood out were pure jojoba oil and pure emu oil. They are all natural and very moisturizing. I put a little on my scalp before bed and massage it in. When I get up in the morning I hop into the shower and was my hair as I normally do. This makes my hair and scalp really soft and smooth.
If you have dry scalp these products we help moisturize it and get it back to a healthy state. The main reason I started using emu oil is that it is 100% natural, which is great. After just a week of using it my hair was so soft I will never use anything else again. So let this 2010 be a new year for your hair and say good bye to dry scalp once and for all.…

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Whole Food Vitamins

Tips on Feeding Your Dog A Balanced Diet

It can be very difficult to feed your animals the right kind of food. It is important to ensure that you have a good range of different options for them. Some things that you might like to consider before deciding on your pet’s diet are their specific nutritional requirements, how food is manufactured and the price.
Specific Nutritional RequirementsThere are lots of different ideas out there about what the best diet for a dog is. The majority of research and studies agree that protein is very important, for example, there are many different kinds of studies that indicate that dogs thrive on a high protein diet. Age and activity levels are two very important factors to consider when deciding on your options. Younger puppies will need lots of calcium to help their bones grow properly. Older dogs will need to have food that caters to their slower digestion processes. If you have a working dog, you will need to ensure that you provide a high level of calcium and iron to meet their excessive energy needs.
How the Food is manufacturedThink very carefully about how the food has been manufactured when you are trying to decide on your dog’s diet. There are lots of options to out there on the market for you to choose from, so really take the time to make an educated decision.
The CostThere are lots of great options out there on the market, so make sure you compare prices. It is important to realize that not all brands are equal. Some will attempt to save money and increase profit by reducing the amount of meat available for your pet. Think about the cost of the food and balance this with the nutritional value in order to make the right decision.…

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Whole Food Vitamins

Care For Summer Hair

It’s a sizzlin’ hot summer. What that means for your hair is sun exposure which can be just as damaging as using a dryer that is way too hot. The UV rays of summer sun can damage the cuticle of your hair causing it to be dry, brittle, frizzy, and ends split up the wazoo. It does not matter if you have thick or thin, fine or curly, healthy or in-be-tween, straight or wavy, your hair can have issues from sun which could result in you looking like you stuck your hands in an electrical socket. Just picture that. It is not a pretty picture.
Summer means relaxing on the beach, taking time to do those things you don’t have time to do in the winter, like taking a sister trip if you can, (we did and had a ball!) It means having hair that looks good, not having hair that you have to spend time worrying about. This is the time to protect and retain moisture in your hair so you must avoid sun exposure and excessive use of styling products. People have a tendency to forget about proper hair care during these lazy, hazy days and don’t realize that they need a different regime than winter time. Although winter dries out hair as well, summers can be over the top with sun exposure. There are sunscreen spray products for hair and scalp that are easy to apply. They retain moisture and protect your hair from the UV rays of the sun. Wearing a hat or scarf is another way to protect your hair and scalp. You can do this in addition to the sprays. Men should definitely wear hats or caps. Applying sunscreens up to 30 minutes before venturing out is ideal. Just read your labels.
If you are spending long hours in the sun don’t forget sunscreens for your body as well. If you are spending a lot of time at the pool or the beach, your hair can become damaged from the chemicals in the pool, or the salt in the beach water. If you fail to take care of your hair after you swim, you are inviting more problems such as breakage, dullness, and more dryness and even discoloration.
It is really simple to take care of your hair if you swim by just following some simple tips:
1. Always wet your hair before you swim because it keeps your hair from soaking in the chlorine or salt water. I also recommend applying a conditioner.
2. After swimming, shampoo the beach or pool water out of your hair with a clarifier and this will keep your hair from absorbing the chemicals. Follow with a proper shampoo and conditioner.
3. If you are going to be just lying on the beach or around the pool keep a conditioner or a spray sunscreen in your hair.
4. Don’t forget your hat or scarf and some sunglasses.
5. Have a fabulous time and don’t forget the sunscreen for your body!.…

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Men'S Health

Secrets to Vibrant, Healthy Hair

Did you know that your body absorbs up to 60% of what you put on your skin? Well, the human scalp is even more porous and easily absorbs whatever is applied to it. Most hair care products, including the shampoo and conditioners used on a daily basis, are laden with harmful, toxic chemicals that are not only damaging to your hair but they absorb through the scalp, enter the bloodstream and accumulate in your body. Since most of us wash our hair at least a few times a week, imagine how consistently applying harsh ingredients and toxic chemicals to your hair and scalp can affect your overall well-being over time.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), are generally at the top of the ingredient list in leading shampoo and conditioner brands. While they create a sudsy lather consumers enjoy, these harsh detergents have been shown to cause eye and skin irritation, scalp allergies, hair loss, and eczema. Some products containing SLES and SLS have even been found to contain low levels of the known carcinogen, 1,4-dioxane.
Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), sometimes called methylisothiazoline, is a powerful preservative found in many commonly used shampoos and conditioners. Scientists documenting MIT are concerned that exposure to this chemical by pregnant women could put their fetus at risk for abnormal brain development. In other people, exposure could also be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease and other nervous system disorders.
Parabens (Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, p-Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, n-Butylparaben and Benzylparaben) are widely used anti-microbial preservatives found in shampoos and conditioners (and many other personal care products). Research dating back to 2004 found parabens in 18 of 20 breast (cancer) tumors tested. Yet, due to the low cost and an extended shelf life, many manufacturers continue to use FDA approved parabens and other harmful chemicals in most of the personal care products that line the supermarket and drugstore shelves.
With an increased awareness of the harmful effects of parabens, some manufacturers have begun to eliminate them from their ingredient list. Despite the availability of harmless plant based natural preservatives like grape seed extract, even natural and organic manufacturers are surprisingly tolerant of phenoxyethanol which is touted as a safe alternative to parabens. Yet, the use of phenoxyethanol is restricted in Japan and Europe citing “chromosomal changes and genetic mutation effects in testing” and reports of damaging effects on the brain and central nervous system.
Other ingredients to avoid in your shampoo and conditioner include propylene glycol (antifreeze), olefin sulfonate (kerosene), and ammonium lauryl sulfate, each of which cause hair loss, irritate your scalp, clog oil glands, and corrode hair follicles. Synthetic fragrances and dyes used to color products (yellow #5, orange #4 and violet #2), damage hair and disrupt the endocrine system. Still, the low price of these and other chemical ingredients allow manufacturers to increase sales and gain higher profits by offering products with a consumer-friendly price tag. These mass produced name brand items may cost less at the store, but in the long run, their use can result in very costly health problems.
What are the secrets to vibrant, healthy hair? First and foremost, choose a chemical free shampoo and conditioner to help to revive your hair and scalp by infusing them with natural minerals, vital nutrients, herbal extracts, and moisture. If you use styling products or hair spray, be sure they are free of harsh, drying chemicals like alcohol.
Dry, brittle, dull and thinning hair is often the result of a hormonal imbalance. This is especially obvious for women following childbirth and during menopause. Men and women both benefit tremendously from the transdermal use of bio-identical progesterone cream. It safely and effectively restores healthy progesterone levels to create hormonal balance and nurture the entire endocrine system. You’ll not only feel better physically by using progesterone cream, if your unhealthy hair is a result of a hormone imbalance, you’ll notice a dramatic improvement in the way it looks and feels.
Using a chlorine filter shower head is another secret to full, shiny hair. Chlorine is a harsh, endocrine disrupting chemical that causes dry, brittle and split hair. It also absorbs into your skin. Studies have shown that more chlorine is absorbed into the body from a hot shower than from drinking chlorinated water, and can cause dry skin and skin irritations. Beautiful hair also depends on a healthy diet. In addition to using chemical free products, choose foods from the list below to maximize the health and vitality of your hair.
Water is essential for healthy hair and skin, yet most of us don’t drink nearly enough of it. Increase your intake of pure water daily for a positive difference in your hair and an improved sense of well being.
Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which moisturize your hair and …